Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3521, The Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act. This bipartisan reform was co-authored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). H.R. 3521 – the fourth budget-process reform passed by the House in the past week – would provide policymakers with an additional tool to target unjustified spending in appropriations bills, while making certain that Congress maintains its constitutional power of the purse.

Following passage, Chairman Ryan issued the following statement:

“Washington spends too much money that we don’t have on programs that can’t be justified. This bipartisan reform will help lawmakers do a better job of prioritizing hardworking taxpayers’ dollars. And unlike the line-item veto adopted in the 1990s, this reform keeps the power of the purse here in Congress, just as the Founders intended.

“While there is much that divides us these days, this new tool to control spending is the result of Democrats and Republicans coming together in good faith to take a step forward in tackling our deficit challenge. I hope that we can build upon today’s bipartisan reform effort to advance the structural reforms needed to lift our crushing burden of debt and get our nation back on track. I am thankful for the leadership and good faith of Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen and other members of the House Budget Committee who were instrumental in advancing this common-sense reform.”

To learn more about the additional budget process reform bills authored by members of the House Budget Committee and passed on the House floor this past week: